The Folk Singer is the exact right movie for this very moment in time. It courageously reaches down to the deepest measure of the human soul and spirit and mines what cannot be expressed in words. It says what we are all thinking, but were incapable heretofore of saying. You watch this movie and say, “See, THAT is what I mean.” And when your quizzed to put what ‘THAT’ is in concise terms, your only recourse is to simply say, “See the movie.”

It is a film for people who ‘get it,’ who are tormented in a world that doesn’t. Sin and faith are all over this movie, but not always in the religious context we’re all used to. It’s more about how it’s a sin not to pursue your one God given talent or calling, and how you have to have faith that by pursuing that talent, everything will work out. Like Reverend Deadeye says, “The Lord will provide.” But in a dying culture faith seems so faint, and at such war with reason.

The Folk Singer is a journey. It follows Possessed by Paul James aka Konrad Wert, a One Man Band raised by Mennonites and a preacher father, as he tours through Texas and Louisiana, the whole time being eaten alive by the knowledge that his better half is 5 months pregnant, and playing music, and least in its current form, will not provide. On this journey he meets up with other one man bands, mainly Scott H. Biram, whose lightheartedness contrasts with Konrad’s dark place, as well as Reverend Deadeye, Tom VandenAvond, and Ghostwriter.

One man bands are like the soldiers on the front line of cultural decay and homogenization. As the old world crumbles around them they scream into the noise and demolition, cursing progress with Stoic and stern faces. They are like troubadours working in the middle of a battlefield or the crash of a tidal wave, fearlessly chronicling the passing of beauty and reason, illustrating society’s foolishness with brutal art, doing so out of some sense of duty, with little concern for their own life or limb.

This movie has many deep themes, one being brotherhood. Many questions are posed. Few if any are answered. But there is a sense of camaraderie knowing that others have those questions, that you are not alone. As Scott Biram is quoted from the movie, “You can rejoice in one another’s sharing of pain.” One Man Bands connect with their audience in a deeper, more personal way than full bands do because they have to give so much more of themselves. That same deep connection is harnessed by this movie, delivering the audience right into the moments.

At first this movie was hard to read. It has a documentary feel, but clearly its progression and some of the scenes had been thought out beforehand, so it takes a bit for your brain to settle in as it doesn’t know if to be in documentary or drama mode. Really it should be in neither, or both. Also in the beginning scenes, everyone seemed a little tense, like they didn’t know how to act with cameras pointed at them. Eventually they settle down and the film flows smoothly.

The cinematography is top notch. Everything you see in this movie is dirty, old, and dying. There are numerous spontaneous music performances. Konrad Wert takes his fiddle out and accompanies each of the people he meets along his way in song, and this populates a soundtrack that is worthy of its own review.

I also think that it is important to point out that M.A. Littler, the force behind this film is based in Germany, again proving that the Europeans are light years ahead in chronicling American roots culture. I’m happy that someone is stepping up to the plate, but there should be a film like this coming out every few months, from people right here in The States. But kudos to Littler for doing what few Americans have the courage or persistence to do.

The argument has come up here and many other places lately about people saying they hope that underground music doesn’t become popular, or more popular than it is. They want to keep it exclusive. They want to keep their favorite artists starving so that the good art keeps flowing. For those with that misguided notion, The Folk Singer is the cure.

Two guns up.

This film is not easy to obtain, but you can purchase, download, or get more info about it by CLICKING HERE.

That trailer makes it look like a documentary doesn’t it? Still, looks like a great watch. I’m a huge Biram fan so am keen to check it out. PS Have you seen ‘The Killer Inside Me’? I just saw it in the film festival. It stars Casey Affleck and is set in 1950’s small town Texas. The soundtrack is stellar – I can’t seem to find a tracklisting online but it was amazing – Hank Williams, Little Willie John ….

Ive been dying to see this movie. I have bought it twice through the Slowboat website and have had problems both times. I contacted them numerous times and didnt get very much help, just a refunds. Ive given up, just gonna wait for the DVD release I guess. Really sucks, Because I’m a huge Biram and PPJ fan.

It is more a documentary than anything. Nothing is really acted. But like I said above some of the scenes are clearly thought out beforehand. I don’t take that as a bad thing. They are telling the story.

So this may be a stupid question, but what’s the difference between “one man bands” and “singer/songwriters”? I consider myself a singer/songwriter, but of course I sing country/blues instead of James Tayloresque songs, so maybe I’m a one man band? But I only play guitar?
In any case, the movie sounds interesting and I’ll be sure to check it out!

Yeah Aran, Matt M said it pretty well. I would say you are a singer/songwriter. OMB’s usually have more stuff going on, but there’s other differences as well, like when you go see a OMB it’s usually a very carnal experience, while a singer/songwriter is more about the craft of the song. Yopu usually won’t see OMB’s dabble with bands either, but a singer songwriter can work with or without a band, or with different bands for different moods. Like Neil Young.

It seems like we’re at a time in America that’s similar in spirit to the late 20’s and early 30’s. The Depression Era had bluesmen and early folk singers all scraping to eat and singing about things that were simple, but hit right at the heart of a national shared experience. You have to have faith to follow your gifts, even when you don’t know what future they’re going to bring. I’m really looking forward to seeing this, having met a couple of these guys and shared the experience of their live music.

Singer/songwriter sounds accurate then. I’ve thought many times over the years of trying to incorporate other musical elements, but ultimately decided focusing more on guitar, my voice and yeah, the songs was a better use of my time. OMBs sound pretty cool though. Bob Log has come through town before…

Sigh… living in the deep South is depressing when it comes to finding shows to go to within a reasonable distance. You’d think there’d be a strong base on interest in authentic country, but there’s so few venues…

PPJ/Konrad in my eyes, is NOT a one man band, he sings and writes songs, but is NOT a singer/songwriter either. Scott is a living legend one man band and pound for pound, the BEST one man band of all time! Deadeye is another great example of a “one man band”. The movie was good, and can’t wait to get my hands on the finished product!

Thank you Triggerman, I saw that originally but as I am so dang computer illiterate and it calls for me to choose a POP3, IMAP or HTTP server for incoming mail and then outgoing mail server needs a SMTP server, I might as well study Chinese.

Just a simple address, with the amount to send and a name to attach to the money order would make my headache go away.

What I’m being told is that it is about 30 US Dollars, and paypal will convert it for you. If you have problems, try putting in 30 USD, and then it will convert it to Euros for them. This includes shipping.

If you don’t have paypal and want a physical address … well … you should contact them through contact@slowboatfilms.com, unless you can’t. They have responded very promptly to all my emails, but have not supplied a physical addy.

Thanks for contacting the Slowboat Films/Farmageddon Records/Lonestarmusic.com/Hank III help desk. I hope I exceeded all of your expectations today.

This is a terrible review. I watched the folk singer yesterday and I have to say it was a huge let down and was terrible. It was 100% staged and obvious about it. Love the music but the movie had no point. Its like they tried to show who he was yet they had to right a script to try and do so. They should have kept it real but It was fake all the way.